The WWF is run at a local level by the following offices...

In 2020, “net zero” – though mentioned in the national Low-Emission Development Strategy (2020) – was a relatively new concept that many saw as a threat, with unions vocally opposing the idea and companies concerned about the costs involved with reducing their carbon footprints. There was a need for a shared vision and buy-in at the highest levels. WWF’s whole-of-society approach to climate action paid dividends during the review period, with government, unions, businesses and fellow civil society organisations (CSOs) uniting under the vision of a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.

Being appointed to the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) in late 2020 was a significant step in our contributions to such unity. This position enabled us to promote a just transition to net zero as a realistic, fair and science-based objective for the country. When the PCC’s Just Transition Framework was adopted by Cabinet in August 2022, it included proposals for policies to support at-risk value chains as part of a just transition to net zero.

Our role on the PCC also positioned WWF as a useful partner for large labour federations seeking technical support with embedding net zero into their policies and practices: to date, COSATU (the Congress of South African Trade Unions) – South Africa’s largest federation of trade unions with 1,8 million members – and FEDUSA (the Federation of Unions of South Africa) have both adopted climate change policies that were developed with WWF’s support.

Collaborative partnership – with business as well as other civil society actors – was an important aspect of our climate work over the past five years. On the business front, we encouraged South African companies to sign up with the local chapter of the global Alliance for Climate Action, a multisectoral network that requires members to produce a plan to reach net zero by 2050. By June 2025, the Alliance boasted five municipalities and 52 signatory companies – including WWF Business Network partners Nedbank, Danone, Vodacom and CHEP.

On the civil society front, we championed net zero with the South African Climate Action Network (SACAN), a coalition of climate-focused CSOs. SACAN went on to join us in campaigning for net zero in our respective submissions on South Africa’s draft Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) in 2021 and became a trusted implementation partner in our youth climate engagements.